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Today's Flash Back Friday episode is from #732 that originally aired on Apr. 22, 2024. Jerry Rosengarten is a Brooklyn-born serial entrepreneur whose greatest skill is the extraordinary ability to perceive form and structure and opportunity from within disorder, including developing products to deal with dyslexia, reimagining real estate, and investing early and heavily in solar energy. Jerry's first big win came in the 1970s with the Leisure Suit, which became a cultural fashion phenomenon that stoked his confidence and staked his growing desire to build land mark New York projects like the Lofts and the The Bowery Hotel. Today, Jerry owns one of the largest private solar farms in the Northeast, located on Long Island's eastern tip, and his creative passions are focused on environmental stewardship and active advocacy for those suffering from learning disabilities. Highlights: 5:25 - Starting the famous Leisure Suit / Lessons Learned 12:22 - Finding a Creative Space (property) 20:22 - Making The Worst location in NY Successful 26:23 - Growing Up with Dyslexia / Seeing Things Differently 34:26 - The Importance of a Supportive Spouse Quote: "I jump on the train and take it to the end. Each-train are concepts are designs." Connect with Gerald: jumponthetrain.com Recommended Resources: Accredited Investors, you're invited to Join the Cashflow Investor Club to learn how you can partner with Kevin Bupp on current and upcoming opportunities to create passive cash flow and build wealth. Join the Club! If you're a high net worth investor with capital to deploy in the next 12 months and you want to build passive income and wealth with a trusted partner, go to InvestWithKB.com for opportunities to invest in real estate projects alongside Kevin and his team. Looking for the ultimate guide to passive investing? Grab a copy of my latest book, The Cash Flow Investor at KevinBupp.com. Tap into a wealth of free information on Commercial Real Estate Investing by listening to past podcast episodes at KevinBupp.com/Podcast.
Steve Gruber discusses news and headlines
In this episode, we chat with Choni Fernández, Chief Sustainability Officer and Customer at PortAventura World, the first carbon-neutral theme park in the world, and now proudly B Corp certified.Choni isn't just ticking ESG boxes, she's leading a cultural shift in how attractions operate. From zero-emissions hotels to renewable energy and deep supply chain work, PortAventura is setting the global standard.In this episode, we dive into the real work behind the headlines. How do you build a sustainability culture that actually sticks? Can you lead without a big green team? And what does digital sustainability really mean?If you're serious about sustainability, or wondering where to start, this is the conversation you need to hear.Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden, with co host Andy Povey and roving reporter Claire Furnival.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn. Show references: PortAventura World website: https://www.portaventuraworld.com/nosotros/trabaja-con-nosotrosChoni Fernández on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/choni-fern%C3%A1ndez-veciana/Choni Fernández is Customer, Sustainability and Communications Director at PortAventura World. With a background in Economics and over a decade at BASF, she joined PortAventura in 2007, where she has led Procurement, Logistics, and Sustainability. She spearheaded the company's sustainability strategy, achieving the milestone of B Corp Certification, and now leads the newly created Customer Department to drive a more customer-centric approach. Choni also serves as Catalonia Delegate at DIRSE and is Chair of the IAAPA EMEA Sustainability Committee. Plus, live from the IAAPA Expo Europe show floor, we catch up with:Jakob Wahl, President & CEO of IAAPAhttps://iaapa.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakob-wahl/Elliot Hall from Expression Capital Partners LLPhttps://expressioncapitalpartners.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-h-1b804a6a/Matt Barton, CEO / Co-Founder CurtainUp Ltd. & President of Themed Entertainment Association TEA https://www.curtainup.livehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-barton-99a8039/Melissa Oviedo, Chief Executive Officer, Themed Entertainment Association TEA https://www.teaconnect.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-oviedo-ruminot-90a63228/Kevin Murphy, Senior VP, Kraftwerk Living Technologieshttp://www.kraftwerk.athttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-murphy-854439/Jacob Thompson, CX Director, Attractions.io https://attractions.iohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-thompson-icap-151271149/ Transcriptions: Welcome, skip the queue, to Barcelona.Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, the podcast about the world's best attractions and the amazing people that work in them. I'm your host, Paul Marden, and along with my co-host, Andy Povey, and roving reporter Claire Furnival, we're bringing you the latest news from IAAPA Expo Europe in Barcelona.Paul Marden: You join me today tired and just a little bit emotional at the airport after an amazing week at the show.Paul Marden: In this episode, we wrap up our time at IAAPA Expo Europe with a final look back at the show floor buzz. I catch up with Jakob Wahl, Chief Executive Officer of IAAPA, to get his reflections on an unforgettable week, from standout innovations to what's next for the global attractions industry. But first, Andy sits down with Choni Fernandez, Chief Sustainability Officer at PortAventura World, to explore what it really takes to become the first carbon neutral theme park on the planet and why sustainability must be at the heart of guest experience going forward.Andy Povey: So hello, everybody. I'm joined today by Choni Fernandez from PortAventura World. Choni is responsible for sustainability and guest experience and a number of other things, I believe, Choni. Hello and welcome to Skip the Queue. Hello. Choni Fernandez: Thank you very much for your invitation. Andy Povey: So, Choni, you guys at PortAventura World are really leading the industry and probably more than just our industry. In terms of sustainability, you were the first carbon neutral theme park in the world and in '24, the first theme park company to achieve a BCorp certification. Am I right?Choni Fernandez: Yes, you're right. It was, in fact, we are VCOPS since 2022. And yes, we were operational carbon neutral because we reduced our emissions during several years. And after that, we acquired some carbon credits to compensate the result of the balancing emissions. For scope one and two. Yes. So since then we are operational carbon neutral. That is not really an official name, but it's easy to explain what we are doing. Andy Povey: Okay. So what is the official name?Choni Fernandez: The official name, in fact, now that's interesting because it's a big discussion in the European community. We chat the terms we can use or not. In the new CCRG, that is going to change. Some words like green, sustainable, are probably forbidden, words that cannot be used any longer. And you need to speak properly about the impact of your activity without using these words that can lead to a type of greenwashing. And you need to be more clear about when you say, for instance, 'carbon neutral,' you need to say, 'we have reduced emissions, we compensate.' More explanation than just using one word that can be easily misunderstood.Andy Povey: Okay, yeah, yeah. That makes a lot of sense. Just buying carbon credits. You're actually doing something positive. Taking action. Like, is it Europe's largest solar farm?Choni Fernandez: It's the largest solar farm. That was one of the biggest at the source of Europe. And for sure, I guess, is still the biggest in Spain.Andy Povey: The biggest solar farm in Spain.Choni Fernandez: Sorry, in a holiday resort, yes. There are other very big solar plants that they produce energy for third parties, but they are not linked to a tourist industry.Andy Povey: No, that makes absolute sense. So you're generating your own power.Choni Fernandez: We generate 30%. The plant is not big enough and we have some restrictions of the government. So we cannot sell the surplus of energy we produce. So we could only make the plan as big as the low on consumption we have in a period of a year.Andy Povey: That makes absolute sense.Choni Fernandez: So that means that there are several months where we produce 100% energy we need. But then, obviously, in the peak of the season, we need extra energy. We buy from the net, but we always buy green energy from the net, too. Then 100% of the energy we consume is green energy, not coming from non-renewable.Andy Povey: It all becomes much more complicated as you dive into the detail, doesn't it?Choni Fernandez: Yes, yes, yes. Everything is much more complicated. And in Europe, yes, I would say even one step more complicated than the rest of the world because of all the regulations.Andy Povey: So what was it that inspired PortAventura World and how did you persuade PortAventura World to take sustainability so seriously?Choni Fernandez Okay, the history starts really with, I would say, a huge pain point, even when they were designing the park. And it was related to water. We are established in an area where we suffer from water scarcity many periods. So for those designers, they already designed the park with sustainability in mind. So they have created a complex system to recover all water rains in a big tank that is our Mediterranean lake.Andy Povey: Yeah, yeah, yeah.Choni Fernandez: So water was a treasure since the beginning. And they have also in a private-public investment. Take all the gray waters from the park, sending it to a water treatment plant several kilometres far away from the resort, and making the pipe bring the recycled water back to the resort for gardening. So PortAventura was using recycled water since 30 years ago. And that was really the starting point of sustainability at PortAventura. So we start with all the environmental impacts that the activity was going to have. And they created the park open doors in 1995. So in 1997, just two years after that, they have created the Green Team.Choni Fernandez: It's a team from different members of different departments who takes care of the environmental impacts and how they can reduce the use of water, energy and so on. And this team is still working nowadays and takes care of more complex things, certifications, but with the same, I would say, purpose, you know, that is to reduce the environmental impact of the resort, and now we start to regenerate different areas. So it's not producing impact, it's creating positive impact through regeneration.Choni Fernandez: And that was a starting point. But I like to repeat that sustainability has not fixed rules. So that is the story of Pota Aventura, because we are what we are. We are located where we are. But for instance, in the Global Sustainability Committee of IAAPA, SCARBRED was a member of that. And SCARBRED, the sustainability, had not begun for the water scarcity. They don't have this problem.Choni Fernandez: So sustainability there was more linked to the social sustainability, how to integrate communities in the project. So it really depends, again, in that moment, the momentum, you know, that we call. Where you are, who you are, what is your future footprint of your activity in your community and in the environment.Choni Fernandez: So we start with that. And year after year, we consolidate this beginning. So any new activity of PortAventura, it doesn't matter— new hotel, new park, convention centre has always followed the same philosophy that we started in 1997.Andy Povey: Very good.Choni Fernandez: Yes, because I think that this makes the project really coherent, consistent, and resilient. So it's something that we have not done from day to night, you know. It's something that we have. It's like a dish you have cooked in a low, low temperature, you know. Andy Povey: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Slow cooker. Choni Fernandez: Slow cook. That is. Sustainable PortAventura is slow cook. But at the end, you know, the dish is very good cooked and it's good.Andy Povey: Absolutely. And then, as the person responsible for customer experience within PortAventura World, before talking to you, I wouldn't necessarily have put... sustainability and customer experience together in the same group.Choni Fernandez: You're right because, okay, that is something that has changed also through years, you know, so sustainability was linked and happened at PortAventura. It was totally linked to the environmental part. But that is only one third of what sustainability means. Sustainability is also the social impact and obviously the governance.Choni Fernandez: We call also ESG. Okay, it has some difference because it has more financial meaning. But what is clear when you talk, when we talk about sustainability, we talk about the environmental impacts and the social impacts. And the social impacts are the impacts that your activity, our activity has on people. And when we talk about people, we talk about employees, we talk about our community that's surrounding us, we talk about shareholders, we talk about suppliers, and we talk about guests or visitors. And the activity of any company should have a positive impact on these people that are affected by the activity, that they are also called stakeholders.Choni Fernandez: So, and here is the reason why we try to improve every year the guest experience in order to improve this positive impact. And at the end of the day, because we are not NGOs. We strongly believe that a positive impact on the guest experience is going to be translated in future revenues, more attendance for our parks, and makes our resort more resilient because it's more profitable in the long term.Andy Povey: So this really is a sort of a wheel or a cycle. Choni Fernandez: You are right. You are right. You are right. So we really differentiate at PortAventura. I mean, sustainability is also a new angle to see your business. There is the financial angle. And then there is the angle— how your activity affects the difference they hold up. But that is clear that both need to go together. I mean, business and sustainability. In fact... One of the reasons to become a BCorp company is to evolve our mission and vision with a purpose that integrates sustainability in the business model. So it is much easier for us to talk to employees, to talk to suppliers, to talk to guests. About what is the reason why it exists and why it's important to have sustainability included in order, again, to make our business resilient through the past of the years.Andy Povey: So we have a lot of listeners around the world. What would be your advice to someone running a venue that doesn't have the advantage of starting with sustainability right at the heart and from where they started their business? How do you make a start on this?Choni Fernandez: That is a very interesting question. And the first I think any company needs to do is really to understand the stakeholders they are affecting too. Because just with this complete transparent and dialogue with the different stakeholders, you really can understand what is the impact you are producing on them. And from this result, then you know where are your main pain points, where you need to focus first on. Obviously, there are some general rules. Your impact on the environment, as I told you before, normally a new venue has, for sure, clients, or at least customer guests, employees, probably shareholders, and then in another level, suppliers, community, etc.Choni Fernandez: So, and depends what is the situation, you need to start with that. You need to prepare a good analysis because, if not, what could happen? Imagine that you focus a lot on the environmental part and you start with that because you have seen that PortAventura has started with that.Choni Fernandez: But then that is not your problem because you are in an area where your resources are really well controlled or your resort has very good standards, very efficient, because it has done with high technology, but you have an employee problem.Choni Fernandez: You have problems perhaps to attract employees, to retain the talent, or really to make them happy working with you. Then you have to start the sustainability for not the most important topic in your company. So the most important is to understand what the stakeholders need from you and then to prepare. And it's also very interesting, I think, to start, you know, things small.Choni Fernandez: Making small projects that can be consolidated and embedded into the company. Because what is really important in a company is that each department, each area of the company, maintenance, procurement, human resources, marketing, and each of the departments really is doing the part of sustainability they need to, because it is impossible that one person on every team produces all the sustainability that the whole company needs to do.Choni Fernandez: So if sustainability is really not embedded in the activity of each Japan, it's really impossible to be a successful company in terms of sustainability. You know what I mean?Andy Povey: I know exactly what you mean. That rule is so true for so many things, isn't it? You could replace the word sustainability with guest experience or ride safety. Choni Fernandez: Yes, it's the same. Andy Povey: Any number of different things.Choni Fernandez: I always explain when people say, 'but you have done a lot, Choni.' I say, 'no, no, no, no, no.' Choni has not done a lot.Choni Fernandez: Many people are doing a lot, you know. And sustainability managers or directors normally are orchestra directors. But each one needs to play its own instrument so we have a nice music, you know. If not, it does not work at all, you know, like in orchestra. So we need the maintenance guy, really. or the energy manager to really take care of that. And human resources really to prepare inclusivity, et cetera, policies linked to employees. And marketing, doing really an ethic marketing to guests. So, and that is how everyone is really doing a part of the peak and sustainability of the company.Andy Povey: That sounds very familiar and I'm sure for our guests will ring true in many different areas. It's interesting you talk about really understanding where you are. What it is you're doing. We've done some work here in the UK on the sustainability of websites. So by not printing a park map, you obviously save resources, you save paper. But if you put that on a really inefficient webpage, then you're just consuming someone else's electricity. It doesn't make you any more sustainable.Choni Fernandez: And one thing I would like to tell you is that one of the big steps for us was when our investors make the management very clear that investors of the private funds that own PortAventura were asking for sustainable investments. So that was also a way, really, to receive more money from the investors to the owners. And that is very important because when the financial markets really recognise that sustainability is a plus for an investment, then, you know, things change. Things happen. And we had two moments in this company, in my opinion, for us, for sustainability managers, that make this big change in our mindset. Choni Fernandez: One is the world of our shareholders. And that was really a big, big step forward. Because we realised then, 'oh my God, we are sustainable. We can be sustainable. Our sustainability is a lever really to receive more funds to our business.'Choni Fernandez: And the second one was when we have two different businesses, really a B2C— final customer— and a B2E— travel agencies, companies who do their conventions in our convention, et cetera, et cetera. Once upon a time, a company came to PortAventura asking for a quotation for a big convention, European size, very big one.Choni Fernandez: And before receiving the quotation, they asked, 'Please, can you send us your sustainability report?' Because we would like to see if that's the venue where we want to go. Now, everything changed.Andy Povey: Absolutely.Choni Fernandez: Because at first time, sustainability was bringing business to the company. It was not a nice to have, something that we need to have. It was really part of the business. And that changed the history of the, I would say, the sustainability journey of this company when we have both shareholders' commitment and really request to continue on that. And on the other side, we were recognised for our sustainability activity in a business case.Andy Povey: It's very interesting when you get push or pull from both sides. Choni Fernandez: You're right. Then you realise that there is no other way to do that, you know, so you need pushing, pushing.Andy Povey: You're doing a lot of work about education, work, and working with schools, and having to engage them in your journey.Choni Fernandez: That's again the same case, you know. So in our guest segmentation, school groups are one of them. And it is a very important group for us and I guess for other operators too. As we receive many schoolers. But, you know, the teachers, not students, they thought that the trip to PortAventura was really 100% entertainment. And schools were looking for something more cultural, educational.Choni Fernandez: So then, at that moment, we prepare some workshops at the beginning of the day before the park opens. If the park opens at 10, we can deliver a sustainability workshop from 9 to 10. For instance, talking to kids about biodiversity, about waste management, how to produce green energy. So in the solar plant, we don't have only solar panels. We also have some instruments, some elements to explain children how to produce green energy with movement, with wind, with sun, with solar energy. And they can experiment with their hands. With this element, how to produce this green energy. And they understand very well because that is part of the curriculum that they have to study at school. But now they can put it in practice in a different way, in a way... that our industry delivers very well, that is entertainment, you know?Andy Povey: Yes, yeah, yeah.Choni Fernandez: And that is driving more schools to visit us. So again, there is another link with sustainability, more business, more attendance, more revenues.Andy Povey: We're back on the cycle.Choni Fernandez: Yeah, again, the cycle. We close the loop, you know.Andy Povey: Absolutely. Choni, is there something you'd like to leave as a sort of parting message or a final thought to everybody that's listening to the podcast? A single sentence about how they can emulate your success.Choni Fernandez: No, I think that, okay, sometimes in life, you know, for sustainability managers, I mean, and now in the world, perhaps you feel like Talmon, you know, coming up to the river.Andy Povey: Yeah, yeah, yeah.Choni Fernandez: In a difficult situation, but it doesn't matter. So the evidence is so strong that, if you really can close the loop, as we have been talking, if you can really demonstrate and we can close the gap. Between the sustainability impacts and the financial impacts, then sustainability is part of your business. I think that should be the goal— to really don't have sustainability as something nice to have additional to the business. Avoid that at all.Choni Fernandez: Sustainability is part of the business and makes the business more resilient and more profitable in the long term.Andy Povey: Lovely. That's a great message to leave us with. Paul Marden: Now let's hear some of the buzz from the show floor.Claire Furnival: So day three of IAAPA and I've just bumped into Matt Barton. Matt Barton: Hello. Claire Furnival: Matt, you wear many hats.Matt Barton: My day job is I'm the founder and CEO of Curtain Up. I'm also the owner of 7th Sense, a company that makes media servers and pixel management systems. But I'm also the president of the Themed Entertainment Association, better known as the TEA.Claire Furnival: Crumbs, the busy man. I hear you had a party last night. Matt Barton: We did. Yeah, we had a very successful mixer. We have a great relationship with IAAPA and we have a mixer at all of IAAPA's events around the globe. And we bring our members together, usually on the second or third night of the event.Claire Furnival: Anything announced last night at the party?Matt Barton: Yeah, so we announced our next SAIT conference, and SAIT stands for Storytelling, Architecture, Technology equals Experience. So it's a thought leadership conference where we talk about trends in the industry, best practices to follow, that kind of thing. We've just finished our SAIT Asia event just three weeks ago now, and that was in New Zealand this year. And we just last announced that we're going to be in Dubai next year. Again, building on that great relationship we have with IAAPA, we're actually doing it almost like a pre-conference event. So it's tied in with IAAPA Middle East, which is going to be in Abu Dhabi. We're going to be the week before. So people can then come to SAIT, enjoy SAIT with us, and then go straight down to Abu Dhabi for the IAAPA conference.Claire Furnival: What activities is it that the TEA do? What do you offer your members?Matt Barton: So a whole range of things. And what I'm going to do now is introduce our CEO, Melissa. Melissa Oviedo.Claire Furnival: Great to meet you, Melissa. So what is it that TEA offers its members?Melissa Oviedo: We are really the connection community. The connection community for the design, the makers, the builders, the creators. Everybody who delivers world-class experiences around the world, that's really who we are and what we represent. That can be from theme parks to museums to cultural to location-based entertainment. Claire Furnival: So I understand that the TEA does an annual benchmark report. Melissa Oviedo: Yeah, we've just rebranded this. This is the TEA Theme Experience Index. This is the 19th year that we're doing this benchmark study. Yeah, it's really exciting for us. And what this is, is this is the annual attendance report that tracks attendance data from around the globe for the top theme parks, water parks, and museums globally. It really looks at trends, so we can understand where are the guests going, where are they spending their time, how are the parks, especially as they're coming new on the market, how do they influence those trends? And we're actually going to be launching this on October 22nd.Claire Furnival: So a couple of questions spring to mind on that one. So first of all, can anybody access the report?Melissa Oviedo: Yeah, sure can. It's a completely free resource. You can go online. If you're not a member, we just ask for you to fill out a quick form so we know who's downloading the report. And you will have full access to all of the data, and we will have actual books to hand out at IAAPA in Orlando in November.Claire Furnival: The sector's very, very, very lucky to have this piece of research. So can you give us any snippets as to what we might see in the report?Melissa Oviedo: I think you'll see that the theme parks are really consistent. The big players are still the big players with Disney and Universal really driving the... main attendance data. And then China, with Chimalong Park, really still holding rank at number one water park in the world. We're seeing the attendance coming back in a fierce way in China.Melissa Oviedo: Outlook is positive. Overall, though, you'll be able to find in the report a lot of the trends that we're seeing. A lot of what we're not only anticipating in 2025, but in the future as well, with all of the developments that are happening. So, really exciting, this year's report. Claire Furnival: And what about 2026? What does that bring the TEA? Melissa Oviedo: Momentum is high, right? The community continues to look at how they diversify as an organisation or as a business. Theme parks is our core, but we're so much more than just that. So I think you're going to see. More people doing really cool and immersive things in new places. I think the definition of themed entertainment gets broadened and further defined. I think that you're going to see more activity and more collaboration because collaboration is really when the magic happens. And you're going to start to see that even more robustly in 2026 and beyond. Claire Furnival: Sounds exciting. So last thought from you, Matt.Matt Barton: Yeah, I just wanted to touch on a couple of things we've got left in 2025 before we look to 2026. So I mentioned SAIT earlier. We also have our SAIT conference in North America coming up. So that's in October. at Knott's Berry Farm, and that ties in with when we're launching the Global Experience Index. And then in November, we've got our mixer, our international mixer, combined with the IAAPA conference in Orlando. And so on the Tuesday night of IAAPA, we have our international mixer at the Isle of Berk attraction at Epic Universe. We've got the whole land, we've got dinner and drinks, and it's going to be a good one, so make sure you get your tickets in.Claire Furnival: One not to miss. Well, it's fabulous to catch up with both you, Matt, and you, Melissa. So thank you very much for your time.Matt Barton: Thank you.Melissa Oviedo: Thank you so much, Claire.Andy Povey: So we're on day three, and I'm sitting here with Elliot Hall, who's one of the founding partners behind Expression Capital Partners. Elliot, hello. Elliot Hall: Hi, Andy. Good to see you. Andy Povey: For our listeners at home, can you just tell me what Expression Capital Partners do and treat me like an idiot because I really don't understand the world of investment banking and all that kind of stuff.Elliot Hall: Okay, so Expression Capital Partners is the advisory firm to Entertainment Investments 1LP. Which is specialising in the entertainment industry. Andy Povey: Interesting. So I understand you're doing some work with Hasbro and in particular things like Monopoly.Elliot Hall: Yes, yes, yes, absolutely. So we're looking to open monopoly-themed hotels and casinos around the world. Andy Povey: Wow. Elliot Hall: Along with many of the different types of brands, as we're rather across their 1000 plus brands. Andy Povey: I understand there's also some sporting connections. Tell us a little bit about, tell us what you can. Elliot Hall: Yeah, so what we can. We are working with some brands that have relationships and contracts for the IP for UEFA, FIFA and the FA. Yeah, so some really exciting products there and businesses. And we are in a position to be able to sign licenses and lease agreements and so on. And we're looking at bringing all of those brands together, either in the same cluster of IP attractions or within one building under one roof. Andy Povey: So, Elliot, you guys really are the people that are bringing the magic together. The IP, the operators, and then working out how someone funds it all.Elliot Hall: Yes, absolutely, yes. Andy Povey: Fantastic.Claire Furnival: So I'm here talking to Kevin Murphy from Kraftwerk Living Technologies. How are you finding the show this year and what do you see the trends for 2026 for you, Kraftwerk or also the industry?Kevin Murphy: I think in many respects, the trend at the moment is survival, which isn't being negative, but the world is a different place from how it was pre-COVID. The industry, though, is very, very alive. There's a lot happening out there. It's good to see the show for full. We actually tried to get a booth this year and couldn't. Everything had sold out. It's busy. People are wandering around with a very positive vein. But there's no doubt that there's— world tensions and there's problems with investment— and it does affect the industry and you know we're not immune from that. Kevin Murphy: But what's been good about this show is that a lot of the partners and Clients that we're working with are starting to announce their new projects. You have to bear in mind, for us, we do high technology behind the scenes in parks and museums and science centres. We can be working on them for many, many years. So we've had projects that have been brewing and they're just starting to get announced now. So what I'm seeing is, although there's concern about the industry, there is a slightly more positive vein coming through. I think the economy is improving out there, investors are starting to come out, and you can make money out of our industry.Claire Furnival: So what in particular have you got going on in 2026? Anything you can talk about and share with us?Kevin Murphy: Well, we're very, very pleased it's been announced, so I can talk about it. Plopsaland, which is a park in Belgium, are working with Mac. And I'm delighted to see that they've just announced, earlier than we expected, we're still working behind the scenes, but they've now announced their new flying theatre. Which will be ready and prepared at the end of 2026 for the 2027 opening.Claire Furnival: Congratulations, that's really, really exciting news.Kevin Murphy: Sadly, a lot of the other projects, I still can't say too, too much, because they may not have announced.Claire Furnival: Yeah, the dreaded NDAs.Claire Furnival: Just bumped into Jacob from Attractions. io. How's the show been for you?Jacob Thompson: Great. This is my second time at IAAPA in Barcelona. It's been even better than the first time. So the weather's held out. Great conversations, great company. So overall, a success.Claire Furnival: And a little birdie has told me that you have a new feature coming out.Jacob Thompson: That is true. So, yeah, we have launched a new product this month called GX Pulse. And the idea is it's enabling operators to make sense of all the noise of guest reviews and sentiment by breaking... reviews down from TripAdvisor, Google reviews, their own internal platforms to make sense and map that across a guest journey, specifically for attractions. So it's able to understand sentiment across things like queue management, your attractions, your food and beverage, give you scores and benchmark you against other venues. But most importantly, give you actionable insights to make improvements to the guest experience.Claire Furnival: Brilliant use of data there. Really, really, really good. So is this product now launched?Jacob Thompson: Yes, yes it is. So we've been demoing it across some attractions at the trade show floor this week and it's had some really positive feedback. This product is completely separate from our core app platform and experience. So even if you don't have a mobile app and don't need a mobile app, this can be valuable for anybody that is looking to understand the sentiment and experience of their guests across their attractions.Claire Furnival: Fabulous. Guest will be seeing you in IAAPA Orlando.Jacob Thompson: Yes, and I heard there's going to be a great party hosted by Skip the Queue.Claire Furnival: I'm not sure we'll be hosting a party, but we'll certainly be partying.Jacob Thompson: Well, I'll be there to join you nonetheless.Paul Marden: So we're here for the final day of IAAPA Expo Europe. I've had a whale of a time and I'm sat here with Jakob Wahl, who amazingly, considering three days into this fantastic expo, is still looking fresh and bright. Jakob, please introduce yourself for our listeners who may not know you.Jakob Wahl: I'm president and CEO of IAAPA, the Global Association for the Attractions Industry. I've done that now for two and a half years, but in total I've been with IAPA for, I think, nearly 15 years.Paul Marden: Wow, so man and boy almost.Jakob Wahl: Yeah, you know, and I always say the kid in the candy store— I love doing what we do and bringing people together.Paul Marden: How could you not? So this is my first IAAPA. It has been fantastic and stood on the show floor. I think it was yesterday. I was on my own, done so many interviews. I've been bouncing around, but I just had a few minutes by myself and just stood in the middle of it all. Totally is like being a kid in a candy store, the Willy Wonka moment isn't it? Of what this place is like, because it is so fantastic.Jakob Wahl: It is and the most wonderful thing about it is, you know, we as an association, we create a framework, but it is actually all of you, our members, who fill it with life. Because everybody comes together. It's just a massive class reunion. People know each other. And the best thing about it is they're all willing to help and support each other. So obviously, the trade show floor is one component, but we have all those networking sessions, the education sessions, safety corners, we have places where people can exchange, depending on what they work in or where they work, and everybody comes together to share. That is so wonderful, because it's not only family-owned parks, small parks, big parks, but it's also the big private equity corporate players. They're all here to really benefit from this platform, and that fills me with pride.Paul Marden: Good. So, as the week draws to a close, what's been the real highlights for you?Jakob Wahl: How much time do I have? First of all, the people. It's always the people. It's, you know, for me, it's my team coming together from all around the world, putting this together. And then it's... the people coming and creating those education sessions, creating those moments together, sharing their knowledge. That is just wonderful. There's not one specific moment like that, but it happens all the time. Jakob Wahl: And then one of the highlights for me is always, always, always the opening reception. That is our Tuesday night event, which took place at Tibidabo, this classic historic amusement park on top of Barcelona. We were a little bit concerned Monday. Will it rain? Will it not rain? So we had to rent tents to make sure that everybody will stay dry. And what happens if you're intense? Obviously, it doesn't rain. Jakob Wahl: There was an expensive insurance, but it turned out to be exactly that evening. And we have been to Barcelona three times now. We have been to the Tibidabo three times and I think I can be pretty sure that when we go back to Barcelona in three years, we will also go again to Tibidabo because, you know, it's just this evening filled with magic and good people.Paul Marden: Excellent. You've had some time wandering the show floors, I'm sure, talking to suppliers, getting a feel for what's happening in the industry. What have you heard from the show floor that you think is going to influence the sector over the year ahead?Jakob Wahl: I would have loved to ask you that question, actually. What is your impression?Paul Marden: Oh, the blending of tech with real life I find really interesting. We all want to take our kids to attractions because we want to pull them away from their screens. But there's got to be a hook, I think. And in many cases, there are rides or there are amusements of some form that is a skillful blending of that tech with an in-life, in-real-life experience that I think is the hook to get the kids in. But then we're still wrenching them away from the screens. They're doing something for real with family.Jakob Wahl: Yeah, I think technology enhances the experience. It doesn't replace the experience. I think that is something which is very clear on the show floor, that there are different ways of how you can combine existing attractions with new technology. And we sometimes call it fusion attractions, where you bring several elements into play with each other. And I think that is very important. What we have seen also is an increase in what I would call smart technology. How can you use technology... to improve the guest flow, to make it even smoother. We all want to have a smooth process. It should be easy on the phone. All those things, besides the classic coasters and water slides and inflatables, that is, I think, some area which has really grown on our trade show floor over the past years.Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. If you can smooth that process from the moment that they hit the website all the way through, getting them to the experience and then back out the other side and encouraging them to want to return again is really important, isn't it?Jakob Wahl: And the same is for operations and maintenance, the front of house for the customer, but also the back of house. And we learned some fascinating things. We talked in our leadership breakfast with the CEO of a large park group, and he said, 'There are tools that can now predict 93% of the attendance of every day.' And that is just fascinating because that helps operational planning, that helps food and beverage planning, that helps all those aspects in running a park successfully or running an attraction successfully.Paul Marden: Absolutely. So, as we come to the end of IAAPA Expo Europe, there are many US listeners, I'm sure, also quite a few Brits as well, anticipating IAAPA Expo Orlando in November. Have you got any insider tips or things that we can look forward to in Orlando? Jakob Wahl: I can say it will be epic. There's quite a significant theme park which opened this year, Epic Universe, which is just down the road from the convention centre.Jakob Wahl: And we actually have not only... Mark Woodbury is speaking in our keynote in our leadership breakfast. But we also have privatised the park on Thursday evening for the IAAPA Celebrates for four hours. So it is Epic Universe, just for IAAPA members, which will be amazing. I've had the luck to visit the park several times. And I can only tell you, you know, you should be there. The evening before the show opens on Monday, IAAPA has the Legends event, the honorary evening for the Hall of Fame. And this year we're actually inducting five inductees. Among them is Dolly Parton. So if you have ever wanted to meet Dolly Parton. Paul Marden: The real Dolly Parton. Wow.Jakob Wahl: Yeah, Dolly Parton is getting into the IAAPA Hall of Fame, besides some other really fantastic candidates or inductees. And she will be there to receive that accolade. And as you said, you have many British listeners. Next year, IAAPA Expo Europe is in London.Paul Marden: Now, I'd quite like to do an edit for my family that might be listening, because that did sound quite epic. And we need to be absolutely clear that there's lots of hard work to be done in Orlando, as well as enjoying ourselves at Epic and seeing Dolly Parton.Jakob Wahl: Yeah, I'm pretty sure we need to Skip the Queue on site for a podcast from Orlando.Paul Marden: Oh, there we go. There we go. I think we should end it there. Jakob, it has been delightful to meet you. I've really enjoyed it. I'm so grateful for being invited to come to IAAPA this year. Bring the podcast here. I've had so much fun. I've learned so much. It's been wonderful. Thank you.Jakob Wahl: Oh, we love what you do. Thank you, you know, for making the attractions industry present in the digital space. And we are all great listeners of your podcast. So thank you for what you do for us.Paul Marden: Wow, what a week. A massive thank you to IAAPA for hosting us in Barcelona. It was an incredible few days of connection, innovation, and inspiration. We've absolutely loved being part of it. And who knows, maybe we'll see you again sooner than you think. If you liked today's episode, please like us or leave a comment on your podcast platform. It really does help people to find us. And lastly, thank you to all of the team that made these daily episodes and today's wrap-up session. A possibility without the team it could not have been possible to have done this— thank you to Emily and Sami at Plaster, Steve at Folland Co. Wenayn, Claire, and Andy back at Skip the Queue HQ. It has been a delight to be with you and I look forward to seeing you again next week. The 2025 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsTake the Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report
FIRST WITH YESTERDAY'S NEWS (highlights from Tuesday on Newstalk ZB) School Makeover Nightmares/Too Late On Licenses Already/Nothing Is Safe/Hump-gate/Podcast RouletteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
(Sep 15, 2025)
Bobby was out & about with the CEO of the Griffin Group, Michael Griffin, at Monart Solar Farm to find out about this green initiative and what future plans the hotel group has regarding their push for sustainability.
In this episode of The Mark Haney Show, I sit down with Derek Chase, founder of OnSight Technology and now VP of Robotics & AI at Nextracker, following OnSight's recent acquisition. Derek reveals how his team developed AI-powered robots that are changing the way we manage solar farms—from inspecting millions of panels to predicting failures and reducing costly maintenance. He also explains how the breakthrough Owl fire detection system became the first outdoor smoke detector designed specifically for solar sites, helping prevent wildfires and protecting communities. We explore: • How robotics and AI are driving sustainability in large-scale solar energy projects. • The environmental aspects of preventing fires and equipment failures at utility-scale solar farms. • Why consistent, AI-driven inspections are essential for long-term reliability and reduced maintenance costs. • Derek's entrepreneurial journey: building SunSystem Technology, launching OnSight, and scaling through the Nextracker acquisition. This is a powerful story at the intersection of technology, clean energy, and environmental responsibility. Chapters: 00:00 – The scale of solar farms & why AI robots are essential 02:06 – Derek Chase: from SunSystem to OnSight Technology 05:32 – Why drones weren't enough: the case for ground robotics 10:28 – The Owl: world's first outdoor smoke & fire detector for solar sites 27:35 – OnSight's acquisition by Nextracker 33:56 – Lessons learned: patience and building deep tech 41:33 – Staying hungry after success & what's next Website: https://onsightops.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onsight-technology/
Livestock farmers in Wisconsin are getting excited about solar! MG&E's Tyto solar project is home to about 13,000 solar panels, 30 acres of thriving plants, and a flock of happy sheep. Amy takes a behind-the-scenes look at the solar energy project where 145 hungry sheep are hard at work this summer. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guests: John Armstrong, manager of renewable engineering, Madison Gas and Electric Beau Stafford, Wiscovery Farms Resources for You: Supporting Solar in Wisconsin Episode 40: Surprising Environmental Impacts of Solar in Wisconsin Analysis: Solar produces 100 times more energy per acre than corn grown for ethanol
Opposition is growing to a proposed solar farm in Rome... and they're right. WSAU's Chris Conley explains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week on Fresh Tracks Weekly, we break down what's in the “Big Beautiful Bill” and how it impacts hunters and public land users—even without the controversial land sale provision. We also look ahead to next week's launch of Elk Week, where we'll be rolling out elk-focused content daily. News Stories Covered: – Wall Street Journal Opinion Piece: The WSJ Editorial Board criticized the removal of the public land sale from the bill, backing false claims about affordability and land use. – Wyoming Corner Crossing Case: A new petition has been submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. – BLM Wild Horse Roundup Blocked: The 10th Circuit Court halted a planned roundup of 3,600 feral horses in southern Wyoming due to insufficient explanation on ecological balance. – Backcountry Lake Contamination: A lake in the Wind River Range showed fecal contamination 384x over safe swimming levels. – Solar Farms and Wildlife Displacement: A new study tracks pronghorn movement around a Wyoming solar facility and reveals how habitat use changes after construction—even beyond the fenced area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Farmers and environmentalists are bracing themselves as major changes to the financial support system for agriculture in Wales are announced today. Agriculture is devolved, and policy is decided separately in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Welsh government will publish details of its sustainable farming scheme or SFS later. Plant breeders in Scotland have unveiled a UK-bred blueberry. The James Hutton Institute has grown thousands of seedlings to develop a berry with good flavour, yield and able to tolerate the UK climate. They plan to call the new variety Highland Charm.The Countryside Charity CPRE says new analysis shows that two-thirds of mega solar farms are built on productive farmland. They'd like to see more solar power generated from rooftop systems instead.Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney
A solar farm will soon be under construction in eastern Wilson County. Wilson County Commissioners approved a 10-year tax abatement agreement July 14 with Clear Fork Creek Solar LLC for a 600-megawatt photovoltaic power generation facility on 6,100 acres of land on both sides of U.S. 87 in Precinct 4. The 0 million project — scheduled to begin Sept. 1 and to be completed by December 2026 — will generate six full-time jobs with a salary of about ,000 per year, plus an estimated 600 construction jobs, developers said. Jose Beceiro, a director with the Kroll financial and tax advisory...Article Link
In this episode, we sit down with Nikhil Vadhavkar, co-founder and CEO of Raptor Maps, to uncover how the company is tackling the invisible crisis in clean energy: operational inefficiency across $250B+ worth of solar assets.Nikhil explains why the solar industry's problems aren't just about building more — they're about getting the existing infrastructure to perform. From labor shortages to rising insurance costs, from underperforming fields to unscalable maintenance methods, Raptor Maps is turning traditional solar operations on its head. Their secret? A software platform built on digital twins, computer vision, and robotics that lets field techs do more of what matters.You'll hear how Raptor Maps found product-market fit by replacing the most dangerous and manual tasks on solar farms with drone- and robot-driven workflows, and how that foundation has evolved into an AI-ready platform used across tens of gigawatts of global deployments. Nikhil shares the journey from MIT and NASA to Y Combinator and utility-scale solar, reflecting on what it means to build something technically excellent, deeply customer-embedded, and truly scalable.We cover:How climate-driven damage (hail, fire) and tariffs are reshaping solar economicsWhy investors are demanding deeper visibility into solar asset performanceWhat it takes to operate robots and AI in the middle of nowhereAnd how Raptor Maps built a customer-led culture — even as it scaled---Upgrade to paid today! It's $10/month or $100/year. You probably spent that much on random Amazon stuff last week. What's stopping you from upgrading to paid? Upgrade to Paid
Monday 14 July 2025 PM Anthony Albanese starts his Chinese trip with trade policy, Taiwan, iron ore and tourism at the top of the agenda. And more, including: Preliminary auction clearance rate stays solid Donald Trump puts tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the EU Air India crash preliminary findings released Join our free daily newsletter here. And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week, it's all about budgeting. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Solar projects disturbing more than 10 acres of top-tier soil have to put land in conservation easements under new state regulations.
Eamon Ryan, former Green Party leader and Minister and James O'Connor, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork East
Solar farms in Suffolk now have to place certain equipment farther away from residential property lines and better control sound.
In this episode of The Property Profits Podcast, Dave Dubeau chats with experienced real estate investor and former tech executive Ed Mathews. Based in Connecticut, Ed shares how his real estate investing journey evolved from flipping houses to owning multifamily properties—and now, creatively leveraging land through solar farm ground leases. Ed explains how zoning restrictions and conservation requirements on a 58-acre parcel led him to an unexpected but profitable opportunity: installing a solar farm on otherwise unusable land. He dives into how this long-term, triple-net lease offers stable mailbox money with minimal overhead, and why it's become a smart addition to his investment strategy. This conversation is packed with insight for investors looking for alternative cash-flow strategies, especially in challenging market conditions. If you've ever wondered how to squeeze more value from your land or how renewable energy can be part of your portfolio, this episode is a must-listen. - Get Interviewed on the Show! - ================================== Are you a real estate investor with some 'tales from the trenches' you'd like to share with our audience? Want to get great exposure and be seen as a bonafide real estate pro by your friends? Would you like to inspire other people to take action with real estate investing? Then we'd love to interview you! Find out more and pick the date here: http://daveinterviewsyou.com/
On today's show, we learn about the learning curve of using AI in a professional setting. Also, a new solar farm is in the works for the Beaver Water District. Plus, a conversation about dark comedy for a cause.
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Solar energy company Lodestone is expanding to the South Island. It's constructing a solar farm in Canterbury's Clandeboye, with first generation expected next year. It will generate 43 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity annually, similar to the company's sites in the Upper North Island. Managing Director Gary Holden told Mike Hosking there are six more consented sites in their portfolio. He says they're trying to build a solar farm in every area they can, to follow the populations. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joseph Chacon, CEO of Padge LLC, discusses the impact of electrical harmonics on wind turbines and solar systems, providing insights into causes, consequences, and effective solutions for improving power quality. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard's StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes' YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Welcome to Uptime Spotlight, shining Light on Wind. Energy's brightest innovators. This is the Progress Powering tomorrow. Allen Hall: Joe, welcome to the show. Joseph Chacon: Thank you. I appreciate it. Allen Hall: Well, I'm glad we connected, uh, through Jon Zalar, I believe, and we don't talk electrical power creation or what that. Kind of power we're creating and what the effect of that power is on systems downstream very often, uh, the Uptime podcast, because there's so many wind turbine issues, is mostly focused on mechanical problems. But we're finding that more and more problems may have an electrical origin. We wanted to get an expert in here that would be you to come help us on harmonics because there are requirements about harmonics. Joseph Chacon: There are, uh, IEEE five 19 governs [00:01:00] the requirements for harmonics. At the point of common coupling. Allen Hall: That's correct. And your prior experiences with ge, which is now GE Renova down in South Carolina, that's correct. But you were involved, maybe give a brief description of the things you're working on because when electrical people talk, um, kind of gets lost in translation. You were knee deep, maybe waist deep, maybe eyeballs deep and electrical Joseph Chacon: power at GE Renova? No, not, not knee deep, not weight deep, waist deep. I was baptized, completely immersed all the way in. I came shortly after the Enron acquisition. Um, I was one of the electrical engineering managers at the time. We had, uh, I think two or three at the time. Um, this was pretty early on. Uh, I got out of that because, uh, I'm, I like management, but I, I like electrical engineering, so I wanted to go back to being an individual contributor. Um, so I've touched just about [00:02:00] every electrical thing you can think of in a wind turbine. And also in solar Joel Saxum: as well. You know, a little bit of a sidebar here 'cause I want, we want to definitely get into this deep technical conversation, but Joe, you touched on something that happens to people, right? You're a really good engineer, you've run a team, you've solved some problems. So now you get promoted to management, but you don't get to engineer as much anymore. So you get, like, you get, you start being leadership and like doing all these things, how to manage people, how to run a team, this, that, and that's great. We need that. The industry, every industry globally, we need to be able to do those things. But for engineers that have engineer at heart, and I'm, I'm also looking at you, Alan Hall. Uh, they, they wanna be able to engineer, right? They wanna be able to do stuff to make a difference to, to, to get hands on with a problem. So, so you, so you've done that though, right? That that's you, you are now, uh, Josh Shahan is, uh, pad LLC and Joseph Chacon: pod is short for Padre, which is what my kids and grandchildren call me. They just shortened it from Padre to podge. 'cause saying two [00:03:00]syllables was too much and I liked it. Joel Saxum: Yeah, I like that. Okay, so, so, so like we said, uh, you, you, you guys, you're getting deep into harmonics and other issues. You get called in by Solar Farms to solve problems and, and this is the thing Alan and I were kind of talking about off air a little bit is.
Across the country, food farms are being gobbled up by solar farms. Could that lead to food shortages?Subscribe to my two podcasts: “The Sharyl Attkisson Podcast” and “Full Measure After Hours.” Leave a review, subscribe and share with your friends! Support independent journalism by visiting the new Sharyl Attkisson store. Preorder Sharyl's new book: “Follow the $cience.” Visit SharylAttkisson.com and FullMeasure.news for original reporting. Do your own research. Make up your own mind. Think for yourself.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 2: 4:05pm- Mark Miller—Senior Attorney for the Pacific Legal Foundation—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss Supreme Court oral argument in Trump v. CASA, Washington, New Jersey which will determine if there are constitutional limitations to birthright citizenship as well as the legality of nationwide injunctions on executive orders via district court judge rulings. Miller “has litigated several high-profile cases, including Weyerhaeuser v. United States Fish & Wildlife Service, which resulted in a unanimous win for property rights at the Supreme Court of the United States, and served as second chair in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., another unanimous win at SCOTUS for property owners against federal government overreach.” 4:30pm- Is a massive trade agreement with India about to be announced? Plus, a disturbing new report from The Telegraph suggests Chinese manufacturers may have secretly installed “kill switches” on U.S. solar farms.
Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Derek Kaufman discusses the future of the automotive industry, from tariffs and Chinese EVs to the rise of hydrogen, e-fuels, and AI in repair shops. He explores how automation, policy, and innovation are reshaping the landscape—and why independent shops must build trust, embrace technology, and invest in training to stay competitive. Derek Kaufman, Managing Partner, Schwartz Advisors, Listen to Derek's previous episodes HERE. Show Notes Watch Full Video Episode Introduction of Derek Kaufman (00:00:00) Discussion on Tariffs and Market Reactions (00:02:28) Concerns About Chinese EVs (00:05:06) Historical Context of Quality in Automotive Industry (00:05:26) Impact of EV Tax Credits on Sales (00:08:25) Rethinking Climate Change and Transportation (00:09:27) Future of Internal Combustion Engines (00:14:33) The Role of AI in the Automotive Industry (00:16:12) Humanoid Robots in the Workforce (00:17:01) The Aging of Cars (00:19:48) Humanoid Technology in Automotive (00:20:49) Hydrogen Fuel Developments (00:21:21) Refining Capacity and Renewable Fuels (00:22:01) Distributed Power and Solar Farms (00:23:16) Customer Loyalty Through Expertise (00:25:34) Embracing EV Training (00:26:06) Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care, NAPA TRACS and Automotive Management Network Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/ Connect with the Podcast: -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club: https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmasters -Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976 -Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto -Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/ -Follow on Instagram:
More than 90-thousand solar panels are now generating power for near 13-thousand homes in Canterbury. New Zealand's largest solar farm has opened at Lauriston on the Canterbury Plains. The 93 hectare plant is a joint venture between Genesis Energy and FRV Australia. Genesis Energy Chief Executive Malcolm Johns told Mike Hosking New Zealand will still need a coal reserve in the future. He says there will be periods of time where the wind isn't blowing or the rain hasn't come, and we will need to lean on thermal generation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mayor Mike Duman asked the city manager and attorney to explore Suffolk's legal options.
Climate change Minister Simon Watts will help turn the first sod this morning, at what promises to be New Zealand's biggest solar farm. Climate change correspondent Eloise Gibson reports.
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ffinlo Costain investigates how farmers can earn money by stacking renewable electricity generation with other farming activity.Featuring:Louise Daniels, Head of External Affairs for Thrive RenewablesRoger Stones, Senior Energy Consultant for NFU EnergyHarvie Agnew, Policy Analyst at Solar Energy UKNick Spicer, Chief Executive at YourEcoNature Friendly Farming Network's Farming Champion, Jon FishFarm Gate's Filling the Funding Gap series is sponsored by Barclays, Environment Bank, Forest Carbon, Howdens Insurance, Regenerate and Saffery. Farm Gate is part of 8point9.com - the land use news channel.Further reading from Solar Energy UKFarming Sustainably Report - https://solarenergyuk.org/resource/farming-sustainably-report/Solar Habitat 2024: Ecological Trends on Solar Farms in the UK - https://solarenergyuk.org/resource/solar-habitat-2024-ecological-trends-on-solar-farms-in-the-uk/
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A group of farmers and neighbors near Brownsville Oregon are upset with plans to use prime farming land for a huge solar farm. In this episode they talk about what they've had to fight and why they think this plan is political and needs to stop.
The Tenant Farmers Association says the Government's decision to allow a solar project on farmland in Yorkshire is 'crushing' for farmers who rent land. Harmony Energy can now build a solar farm with battery storage on land owned by the Fitzwilliam Trust near Malton. The tenant farmers who currently farm there have campaigned for the past four years to halt the project.Fishing is facing a shortage of workers – fewer people are coming from the European Union to work, and many older fishermen who retire aren't being replaced. At South Devon College they're hoping to attract new recruits to the industry - we go to event in collaboration with the charity the Fishermen's Mission, where the older generation of fishermen met those just starting out or considering a career at sea. And we hear from the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator. Farmers have long had concerns about the way supply chains work, saying they shoulder too much of the risk, and don't reap enough of the rewards. To help, an Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator has been appointed - in the first instance to enforce new rules aimed at improving transparency and fairness in the dairy sector. Similar regulations to cover pigs are expected this spring and then the plan is to look at eggs and fresh produce.Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons
How farmers can integrate solar panels with growing crops, so they can effectively harvest the sun in two different ways, is the subject of this week's podcast with Elise Couillard and host April Parms Jones. They explore the benefits of solar for farmers, including financial savings, sustainability, and the ability to create microclimates that may improve the growth of certain crops. Elise shares her journey into the solar industry, the importance of tailoring solar solutions to individual needs, and the economic advantages of solar energy. The discussion also highlights the significance of community support and collaboration in adopting solar technology, as well as the integration of minimalistic living with solar energy.Elise is a consultant focusing on renewable energy, agrivoltaics and sustainability and the treasurer and a board member of the Couillard Solar Foundation. She uses her degree in behavioral ecology and past experiences in environmental science to inform her work advising conservation organizations about how to incorporate solar energy and energy efficiency into their operations. Elise advises clients on planning, designing, financing, and monitoring solar projects, especially nonprofit projects. Elise holds a Masters in Biology and a PhotoVoltaic (PV) Associate Certificate from NABCEP. In addition to her consulting work, Elise takes on grant writing services and has won, oftentimes as part of a team, over $800,000 in grants for clients. Elise lives in a tiny house and is an advocate for minimalistic and sustainable living. Connect With Guest:Website: https://couillardsolarfoundation.orgInstagram: @couillardsolar Podcast Sponsors:Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that's tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.Since 1972 Ohio Earth Food has been the go-to source for soil testing, consulting as well as the highest performing and most cost effective granular and liquid fertilizers, seed starting soils, foliar sprays and disease and insect controls. All approved for use on organic farms. Start seeds in The Seed Catapult soil with mycorrhizae and put Re-vita Pro fertilizer in the soil before you plant. Learn more at ohioearthfood.com.Farmhand is the only ready-to-ride assistant made by and for farmers. Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take one of our many time-saving tasks for a test drive to see firsthand how Farmhand can help you earn more, and work less at farmhand.partners/gfm.Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manufactures greenhouses that are built to be intensely rugged, reliably durable, and uniquely attractive – to meet all your growing needs. Rimol Greenhouses are guaranteed to hold up through any weather conditions, while providing exceptional value and an easy installation for vegetable growers of all sizes. Learn more about the Rimol difference and why growers love Rimol high tunnels at Rimol.comSubscribe To Our Magazine -all new subscriptions include a FREE 28-Day Trial
What is the real economic impact of a utility-scale solar farm on rural America?That's one of the questions I had in mind when I visited one of the largest solar projects recently inaugurated right in my own home state of North Carolina. As one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world, EDP Renewables has expanded its footprint into North Carolina with the 74-megawatt Misenheimer Solar Park, a project big enough to power 12,000 homes while generating more than $30 million in long-term benefits to the local community. Built on rolling terrain the site required innovative problem-solving and strong local partnerships, and years of consensus building before the first pile was driven into the ground. Navigating remote collaboration, regulatory hurdles, and evolving construction challenges, EDP successfully brought its first solar facility in the state online, and I got a first-hand look at what utility-scale solar could mean for rural America.In this episode, I ask three individuals involved in the project to help break down the tactics behind making a utility-scale solar project successful:Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO of EDP Renewables North America, shares how EDP builds lasting community relationships and approaches market expansion.Emily Morilla, Priority Project Manager, explains how the team managed project acquisition, permitting, and construction readiness.Sabrina Fleischman, Development Project Manager, details the strategies for securing land agreements, maintaining regulatory compliance, and keeping the project on track.We have a lot of work to do if we're going to realize our renewable energy future on a timescale that helps mitigate climate emergencies; yet with scores of projects like this one coming online, why do we still so seldom hear about it? This conversation offers actionable insights for developers, project managers, and anyone looking to understand the complexities of bringing large-scale solar to new markets, but also provides an interesting discussion point about how we are telling our clean energy story. Hear how the EDP team tackled challenges, refined their approach, and executed a project that will deliver clean energy for years to come, then let's discover new ways to tell that story to the millions of Americans who still believe this is somehow not an economically viable path to our energy security.If you want to connect with today's guest, you'll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today's guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling:
By law, New Mexico utilities must transition to renewable power with benchmarks starting this year. However, with two large solar projects seeking permits, neighboring communities have voiced concerns over safety. On the next Let's Talk New Mexico we'll discuss proposed solar farms near Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Are you concerned about battery storage for solar energy or their proximity to communities?
Send us a textOur friend Marjory Wildcraft is back and we're about to have a freaking polar vortex like none other so she's here tonight to talk about strategies for surviving the cold when the grid goes down. Everyone needs to be prepared for extreme temperature situations, grid failures or at best rolling blackouts, and supply disruptions.SUPPORT THE SHOWSubscribeStar http://bit.ly/42Y0qM8Super Chat Tip https://bit.ly/42W7iZHBuzzsprout https://bit.ly/3m50hFTPaypal http://bit.ly/3Gv3ZjpPatreon http://bit.ly/3G37AVxGrubterra Dried Black Soldier Fly larvae are a healthy alternative to dried mealworms. Black Soldier Fly Larvae contain 75 times more calcium than mealworms and have the perfect calcium to phosphorus balance for chickens, turkeys, ducks, and pet birds. You're going to get stronger eggshells, healthier feathers, and a stronger ability to fight sickness due to Black soldier Fly antimicrobial benefits. Use discount code JESSE10 for 10% off the entire website! SMART is the acronym that was created by technocrats that have setup the "internet of things" that will eventually enslave humanity to their needs. Support the showCONNECT WITH USWebsite https://www.dangerousinfopodcast.com/Guilded Chatroom http://bit.ly/42OayqyEmail the show dangerousinfopodcast@protonmail.comJoin mailing list http://bit.ly/3Kku5YtSOCIALSInstagram https://www.instagram.com/dangerousinfo/Twitter https://twitter.com/jaymz_jesseGab https://gab.com/JessejaymzTruth Social https://truthsocial.com/@jessejaymzWATCH LIVERumble https://rumble.com/c/DangerousInfoPodcastTwitch https://www.twitch.tv/dangerousinfopodcastPilled https://pilled.net/profile/144176Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DangerousInfoPodcast/BitChute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/egnticQyZgxDCloutHub https://clouthub.com/DangerousINFOpodcastDLive https://dlive.tv/DangerousINFOpodcast Send stuff: Jesse Jaymz, PO Box 541, Clarkston, MI 48347
Large solar farms are on the rise in Oregon, in a push to fulfill the state's ambitious clean energy mandates. But their rapid rise is leading to worries about how they could reshape the state's agricultural economy and rural vistas. In November, the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council, a board that oversees the siting of large energy facilities, approved the state's largest solar farm – and one of the country's largest – on about 10,000 acres of active farmland in Morrow County. It's one of several multi-thousand acre solar farms poised to be built in Oregon. Most of the projects will cover cultivable agricultural land, taking thousands of acres out of production and reshaping the rural landscape. This has brought questions about the potential impacts to farmers, ranchers, tourists and wildlife. Sarah Esterson, a senior policy advisor on the state's Energy facility siting team, talked on Beat Check about how the state approves large solar farms and what it requires of developers to offset impacts to rural economies and landscapes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
State Rep Ken Borton, R-Gaylord. Northern Michigan lawmakers call for firings after DNR sells out to solar farm industry
Steve Gruber discusses news and headlines
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We wrap up 2024 with a rather unique agrivoltaics episode. Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Nick de Vries, Chief Technology Officer of Silicon Ranch, to explore the groundbreaking concept of regenerative energy. This innovative approach goes beyond traditional solar energy production by integrating sustainable agricultural practices that enhance soil health and promote biodiversity.Nick shares his journey with Silicon Ranch and discusses the company's commitment to owning the land on which solar projects are developed, allowing for a long-term vision that prioritizes both energy generation and environmental stewardship. The conversation delves into the dual-use concept, where solar installations not only generate electricity but also support agricultural activities such as grazing and crop production.Listeners will learn about Silicon Ranch's regenerative energy program, which aims to revitalize soils through practices like rotational grazing and carbon sequestration. This episode emphasizes the importance of sustainable land management in while fostering economic development in local communities.Join us for this insightful discussion that highlights the potential of regenerative energy to transform both our energy systems and our ecosystems. Don't miss out—tune in to discover how we can create a more sustainable future together!Social Media HandlesNick de VriesSilicon Ranch Support the showConnect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America's number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com
Agriculture accounts for around 12% of greenhouse gases in the UK, according to DEFRA and there is much work across the industry to cut that figure. Arla, the farmer run dairy cooperative plans to reduce its emissions by 30% per kilo of milk by 2030. The company has just started trials using a dietary supplement called Bovaer which is added to a cow's feed to reduce methane emissions. The trial involves around 30 farmers and 3 supermarkets who buy their milk. But despite the feed supplement getting the thumbs up from UK and European food safety bodies, there's been a social media storm of protest, some people calling for the boycott of Arla products because they do not think it should be used, including posting videos of themselves on social media pouring milk away. A scientist and industry expert give their views.A number of tenant farmers in East Yorkshire say they could be facing eviction to make way for a large solar farm.Dairy farmers say it is hard to find workers and growers use seasonal migrant workers to pick fruit and veg. The lack of people joining the fishing industry means some older skippers are now giving up early as they can't find a crew, meanwhile one farming apprentice is realising his dream.And Charlotte speaks to the winner of the BBC Food and Farming award in the "Farming for the Future" category.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Alun Beach
Arla, the farmer run dairy cooperative plans to reduce its emissions by 30% per kilo of milk by 2030. They've just started trials using a dietary supplement called Bovaer which is added to cow's feed to reduce methane emissions. The trial involves around 30 farmers and 3 supermarkets who buy their milk. However, even though the feed supplement has been approved by UK and European food safety bodies there's been a social media storm of protest, some people calling for the boycott of Arla products because they don't think it should be used. Some other milk suppliers have been guaranteeing they don't use it. We ask a dairy analyst what all the fuss is about.We're talking agricultural labour all this week on Farming Today. Horticulture relies heavily on the Government's Seasonal Worker Scheme which means it can recruit overseas workers on short term contracts. We ask British Growers how well the current scheme's working for fruit and veg producers.Tenant farmers in East Yorkshire say they could be facing eviction to make way for a large solar farm. The BBC has been told that at least eight farms that lease land from The Dalton Estate, north of Beverley, had been notified of the proposals. Farmers said the solar project could cover at least four square miles and would be a "bombshell" to families who've farmed in the area for generations. Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney
The largest solar farm on the ocean is now running off the coast of China as the country continues to invest in ways to support its sustainable energy needs. In the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses China's deployment of the world's largest open sea offshore solar panel farm. The project, developed by CHN Energy, spans 1,223 hectares (3,023 acres) and is located 8 kilometers off the coast of China. It aims to generate one gigawatt of renewable energy and is notable for its innovative use of offshore solar technology. Pros of the Offshore Solar Project Efficient Land Use: Utilizing water bodies for solar energy reduces the need for land clearing and habitat destruction typically associated with land-based solar farms. Reduced Evaporation: The solar panels cover the water surface, which can help conserve water by reducing evaporation rates in reservoirs and agricultural areas. Improved Solar Efficiency: The cooling effect of water can enhance the efficiency of solar panels compared to those installed on land. Dual Use Potential: Floating solar farms can coexist with hydroelectric facilities, optimizing energy production and utilizing existing infrastructure. Algal Bloom Reduction: The solar panels can help suppress harmful algal blooms in aquatic systems by limiting sunlight penetration. Clean Energy Generation: The project contributes to renewable energy production, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. Cons of the Offshore Solar Project Impact on Aquatic Systems: The shade from solar panels may alter water temperature and light penetration, potentially disrupting habitats for aquatic plants and animals. Habitat Disruption: The solar farm installation could affect fish spawning areas and migratory patterns, similar to concerns raised about wind farms. Material Degradation: Using plastics and metals in solar structures could lead to microplastic contamination and chemical pollution over time. Recreational Disruption: Floating solar farms may hinder recreational activities, fishing, and navigation in the area. Installation Risks: The anchoring and cabling required for the solar systems could disturb sediments and harm local aquatic habitats. Vulnerability to Weather Events: The structures may be susceptible to damage from storms, hurricanes, and flooding, potentially releasing debris or pollutants into the water. The episode emphasizes the need for careful planning and mitigation strategies to address the potential environmental concerns associated with floating solar farms. While the project presents a promising opportunity for renewable energy generation, it also raises important questions about the ecological impacts on marine environments. The host encourages listeners to engage in the conversation about the balance between renewable energy development and ocean conservation. Link to article: https://electrek.co/2024/11/14/china-worlds-largest-open-sea-offshore-solar-farm/ Follow a career in conservation: https://www.conservation-careers.com/online-training/ Use the code SUFB to get 33% off courses and the careers program. Do you want to join my Ocean Community? Sign Up for Updates on the process: www.speakupforblue.com/oceanapp Sign up for our Newsletter: http://www.speakupforblue.com/newsletter Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc YouTube: www.speakupforblue.com/youtube
It was just a matter of time. Will taxpayers be charged again to subsidize the rebuild? Given the inevitable power scarcity inherent in our unreliable energy future, Jacki offers tips on how to prep for survival in the worst of times. Follow Jacki: X: @JackiDailyHost TruthSocial: JackiDaily Rumble: TheJackiDailyShow YouTube: TheJackiDailyShow Instagram: JackiDaily Facebook: The Jacki Daily Show
Today's blockchain and cryptocurrency news Bitcoin is up slightly at $62,843 Eth is up slightly at $2,582 Binance Coin, up slightly 582 dollars Spot bitcoin ETFs see inflows Coinbase brings cbBTC to Solana Plume Network plans to tokenize solar farms, medicaid claims, mineral rights and private credit Pudgy Penguins CEO says he has high hopes for NFTs. Aethir and the Filecoin Foundation announced an alliance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Brady Report - Tuesday August 27, 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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